The School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU) Announces New Entrepreneur in Residence

On the 16^th of January 2019, the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU) announced the appointment of Chris Stewart, prominent entrepreneur and co-founder and President/COO of speed tracking technology company, Pocket Radar, as its new Entrepreneur in Residence. Mr. Stewart will lead cross-disciplinary, co-curricular entrepreneurship and innovation activities and programs for students at Sonoma State University. “Chris Stewart’s deep experience in leading successful technology startups, as well as his long-time support of entrepreneurial efforts at Sonoma State University and the regional community, makes him an excellent choice as our Entrepreneur in Residence,” Dr. Karen Thompson, Interim Dean of the School of Business and Economics said.

Chris’ appointment was made possible by generous support from the Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation, and is part of the School of Business and Economics’ Inclusive Excellence Initiative that is focused on elevating student success and community impact by leveling the playing field for all students. Chris brings expertise in design, new product development, strategic business planning, patents, and consulting. “In addition to supporting all entrepreneurially-minded students on campus, part of Chris’ role is to work directly with SSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) office on infusing entrepreneurial thinking into programs and activities that foster innovative thinking and inspire action amongst first-generation college students. We look forward to leveraging Chris’ expertise and leadership in helping to launch careers and businesses out of Sonoma State University,” added Dr. Karen

On this note, Chris Stewart, Entrepreneur in Residence at Sonoma State University and co-founder and President/COO of Pocket Radar stated, “I have always been a believer in inclusive, quality education as a catalyst for change and innovation. I look forward to working with students, faculty, and staff to nurture diverse talents and abilities, build self-reliance, and empower students of all backgrounds through the principles of business entrepreneurship.’ With over 35 year of experience in leading technology companies and startups, Chris Stewart is a first-generation college graduate who began his career as a design engineer, and transitioned from research and development project manager to business manager at Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. In 2009, he founded his own technology companies, Invention Planet LLC and Pocket Radar Inc. Chris has been a volunteer faculty member at Sonoma State University where he has lectured in courses on electrical engineering and business entrepreneurship. He also serves as chairman and lead industry advisor of the SSU Makerspace External Advisory Board and Electrical Engineering Department, respectively.

The SBE’s Inclusive Excellence Initiative aims to create learning opportunities and support programs that honor, educate, and elevate a diverse student and campus community. The initiative is led by a faculty and staff task force which coordinates workshops, data collection, and community engagement strategies geared towards enhancing student success. Recently, the School launched a student success workshop series focused on training and equipping faculty with tool-kits for effective teaching and engagement with diverse student populations.

Read More news:

LG joins Microsoft to accelerate autonomous vehicles business

'AI in activity trackers, smartwatches threatening privacy of health data'